How Long Does a Kitchen Renovation Take in Vancouver & Metro Vancouver? Real Project Timelines (2026)

A kitchen renovation in Vancouver or Metro Vancouver takes between 2 weeks for a cosmetic refresh and up to 28 weeks for a luxury custom build in 2026. The single biggest variable is whether the layout changes — moving the sink, stove, or island requires plumbing, gas, and potentially structural work that adds weeks to every phase.

Reno Stars has completed kitchen projects in Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Langley, and across Metro Vancouver. Every project below reflects what homeowners actually experienced — not estimated ranges pulled from a spreadsheet.

How Long Does Each Kitchen Renovation Scope Take?

The table below shows what homeowners actually reported for duration, measured from first-day-demo to final walkthrough. These are median ranges — a project on the high end of a tier typically involves a layout change, a strata building, or supply delays on custom cabinets.

Scope	Duration	What happens
Cosmetic refresh	2–4 weeks	Paint, hardware swap, new countertop, no layout change
Mid-range full reno	6–10 weeks	Semi-custom cabinets, quartz counter, new tile, layout unchanged
Premium reno with layout change	10–16 weeks	Custom cabinets, gas or plumbing reroute, structural wall removed
Luxury / designer kitchen	16–28 weeks	Full custom millwork, integrated appliances, structural changes, designer finishes

Every timeline above includes permit handling where required, BC Building Code compliance, and the final walkthrough. It does not include the pre-construction phase — design, 3D rendering, and material selection typically add 3–6 weeks before demo day.

What Drives the Timeline Longer?

Several items that homeowners do not anticipate can push a kitchen project past the median. Each is solvable — but not instantly.

• Strata building (condos and townhouses): work-hour restrictions, freight elevator booking, and building-protection requirements typically add 1–2 weeks to a project that would run faster in a detached home.
• Custom cabinet lead time: locally made semi-custom cabinets run 4–6 weeks from deposit to delivery. Imported or fully custom cabinets can run 8–14 weeks. This is the most common cause of timeline drift in premium kitchen projects.
• Structural wall removal: requires an engineer assessment, LVL beam specification, and a building permit. Homeowners budget for the cost (typically $8,000–$25,000) but not the additional 2–3 weeks of lead time before demo starts.
• Gas line work: moving a gas range or adding an island gas connection requires a licensed gas fitter and an inspection. Budget 1–2 extra weeks.
• 200A electrical panel upgrade: required when adding induction cooking or an electric oven in an older home. A panel upgrade adds 1–3 weeks and must be scheduled with BC Hydro.
• Asbestos testing and abatement: BC law requires asbestos testing in any home built before 1990 before demolition begins. If asbestos is present, abatement adds 1–2 weeks and $2,000–$15,000 to the project cost.

Planning a kitchen, bathroom, whole-home or commercial renovation? Get a free, no-obligation quote from Reno Stars.

Real Project Timelines: Three Reno Stars Kitchens

These are completed kitchen projects with actual start-to-finish dates pulled from our project records.

Coquitlam: Waterfall Quartz Island Kitchen

This premium kitchen in Coquitlam featured custom cabinets, a 12-foot waterfall quartz island, and a layout that required moving the sink to the opposite wall. The full scope ran 14 weeks from demo to walkthrough — within the premium-reno range. The custom island took 7 weeks alone from measurement to install.

Richmond: White Shaker + Quartz Kitchen

A returning客户的第二次装修项目：Richmond一层城市屋的厨房全面翻新。原有布局未改，更换了所有橱柜、台面、地面和电器。项目在8周内完成——比同规模平均时间略快，因为材料都是本地库存，定制门板从素里供应商处采购，仅用了4周。 View the Richmond kitchen project

Burnaby: Family Townhouse Kitchen

这座Burnaby联排别墅的厨房改造项目规模较大，包括延伸厨房轮廓至用餐区域。布局变动需要新的排水连接和电路升级，使项目耗时11周，落在高端中端区间。橱柜从本地上柜商处定制，门板到货用了5周。 View the Burnaby townhouse project

How Does Metro Vancouver Compare to the BC Average?

Kitchen renovation timelines in Metro Vancouver run 10–20% longer than the BC provincial median for comparable scopes. The primary reasons are strata restrictions in the region's high-density housing stock and longer cabinet lead times for custom specifications — both factors that affect Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, and Vancouver condo and townhouse projects equally.

How to Keep Your Kitchen Renovation on Schedule

Three actions before you sign a contract will protect your timeline more than anything else during construction.

• Confirm cabinet lead time before signing. Ask your contractor to provide the actual supplier lead time in writing. A 6-week stated lead time that turns out to be 10 weeks will push your entire project back by a month.
• Test for asbestos before demo. In any Vancouver-area home built before 1990, this is a legal requirement and takes 3–5 business days. Discovering asbestos on demo day halts the entire project.
• Select all finishes before demo starts. Every week spent choosing tile, plumbing fixtures, or cabinet colour during the project is a week of idle labour on your invoice. A typical designer or showroom visit covers 80% of selections in one appointment.

Planning a kitchen, bathroom, whole-home or commercial renovation? Get a free, no-obligation quote from Reno Stars.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a basic kitchen refresh take in Vancouver?

A basic kitchen refresh — new countertop, fresh paint, cabinet hardware swap, no layout change — takes 2–4 weeks in Vancouver and Metro Vancouver in 2026. No permit is typically required for cosmetic-only work, which removes one of the main timeline risks. The main variable is material availability: if the countertop template and fabrication can be scheduled within the first week, a 3-week timeline is achievable.

How long does a full kitchen renovation with new cabinets take?

A full kitchen renovation with semi-custom cabinets, new countertop, tile backsplash, and updated appliances — but no layout change — takes 6–10 weeks in Metro Vancouver. The cabinet lead time (4–6 weeks for locally made semi-custom) is typically the longest single item. If the layout is unchanged and no permit is required, the physical construction phase runs 2–4 weeks after materials arrive on site.

What is the longest phase of a kitchen renovation?

Custom cabinet fabrication is typically the longest individual phase in a premium kitchen renovation, running 4–14 weeks depending on the manufacturer and material. In a mid-range project, the subtrade coordination phase — scheduling electrician, plumber, tile setter, and countertop template in the right order — is where projects tend to slip. A dedicated project manager coordinating all trades prevents the most common scheduling conflicts.

Does a kitchen renovation require a permit in Vancouver?

Permits are required when the scope includes moving plumbing, adding or relocating gas lines, upgrading the electrical panel, or removing a structural wall. A cosmetic refresh with no layout change typically does not require a building permit in Vancouver. However, if you live in a strata building, your strata council may require their own approval before any work begins — this is separate from the municipal permit and can add 1–2 weeks to pre-construction.

Can I live in my home during a kitchen renovation?

Yes — most Vancouver homeowners continue living in their home during a kitchen renovation. The kitchen will be inaccessible for 1–4 weeks during the demolition and rough-in phases. Homeowners typically set up a temporary kitchen in the dining room or basement with a microwave, bar fridge, and hot plate. Full relocations are not standard; the cost of temporary living arrangements is rarely worth the savings on a renovation that finishes 1–2 weeks faster.